Super secure lock

ABSTRACT

A lock is provided that includes a plate having an opening therein for selectively receiving a lock for holding doors securely closed. In order to unlock the device, in one form of the invention an inner plunger must be moved. In a second form the plunger must be moved in a predetermined manner to permit unlocking thereof. In another form of the device a key is used to move the parts to unlocked position.

United States Patent n 1 Paxton SUPER SECURE LOCK [76] Inventor: Lee C. Paxton, 5050 North Ave.,

Carmichael, Calif. 95608 22 Filed: June 12, 1974 211 App]. No.: 478,765

[52] US. Cl. 70/34; 24/211 N; 70/10l; 70/371; 85/5 8; 292/281; 292/288; 292/340 [51] Int. Cl. E05B 67/36; E05B 65/06 [58] Field of Search 24/2ll N; 8515 B; 70/34, 70/90, 93, 101, 371; 292/23, 252, 26], 28!, 283, 340

[56) References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 337,929 3/1886 Cushing 292/283 1,921,225 8/1933 Hawkins 70/259 2,024,588 12/1935 Lesser 70/90 2,373,083 4/l945 Brewster 85/5 B 2,402,925 6/1946 Spooner 85/5 B Oct. 28, 1975 2,837,905 6/l958 Wroughton 70/90 3,037,256 6/1962 Chapman 24/2ll N 3,233,496 2/1966 De Pew et al 85/5 B FORElGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 474,653 8/1969 Switzerland 70/34 449,28l 6/1949 Italy 70/34 624,352 7/[927 France 70/34 Primary Examiner-Albert G. Craig, Jr. Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Blair & Brown [57] ABSTRACT 6 Claims, l7 Drawing Figures U.S. Patent Oct.28,1975 Sheet 1 of2 3,914,965

U.S. Patent Oct. 28, 1975 Sheet 2 of2 3,914,965

SUPER SECURE LOCK BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to locks, and more particularly to secure locks for doors.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION A lock is provided for doors that includes an outer housing that has a portion for insertion through an opening in a retaining plate. The lock further includes an inner member that in one form of the device is adapted to be manually actuated in order to release the lock. In another form of the invention a key is used to move the parts to unlocked position.

The primary object of the present invention is to provide a lock that will maintain doors securely locked until a person properly actuates the same to permit opening or unlocking of the device.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a lock that is ruggedly constructed and efficient in use and which is relatively simple and inexpensive to manufacture and install.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent in the following specification when considered in light of the attached drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIGv 1 is a perspective view illustrating one form of the lock of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary elevational view illustrating the device in locking position;

FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 2 showing the lock supported in an out of the way position;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken on the line 44 of FIG. 1',

FIG. 5 is an end elevational view of the lock;

FIG. 6 is an end elevational view of a modified form of the invention;

FIG. 6A is a longitudinal sectional view taken along the line 6A6A of FIG. 6, looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIG. 7 is a transverse sectional view taken on the line 7-7 of FIG. 6A, looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIG. 8 is an end elevational view of another modified form of the lock of the present invention;

FIG. 9 is a side elevational view of the lock of FIG.

FIG. 10 is an end elevational view looking at the opposite end from that shown in FIG. 8;

FIG. 11 is a sectional view taken on the line 11-11 of FIG. 8;

FIG. 12 is a view similar to FIG. 11 but showing a key inserted in the lock;

FIG. 13 is a sectional view taken on the line 13-43 of FIG. 12;

FIG. 14 is a view generally similar to FIG. 12 but in unlocked position as compared to FIG. 12 in locked position;

FIG. 15 is a sectional view taken on the line 15-l5 of FIG. 14; and

FIG. 16 is a perspective view illustrating the device of FIGS. 8 through 15 being used for double doors.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring now to the drawings in detail, wherein like reference characters indicate like parts throughout the several figures, the reference numeral 30 indicates generally a lock for use with ajam 31 and door 32. The jam 31 may have a recessed shoulder 33, FIG. 1 for receiving the door 32 when the door is in closed position.

A plate 34 includes a first flat section 35 that has openings 36 whereby screws 37 can extend through these openings 36 in order to fasten the plate 34 to the jam 31. The plate 34 further includes an angularly arranged section 39 that terminates in a coiled or curved portion 40, and curved portion 40 provides a space for receiving the lock 30 when the lock is not being used as shown in FIG. 3.

The lock 30 includes an outer barrel or housing 41 that has a reduced diameter end portion 42 that is provided with a pair of diametrically opposed apertures 43, and ball retainers 44 are moveably mounted in the apertures 43, FIG. 4. The outer barrel 4] is knurled at 45 as shown in the drawings to provide a hand gripping portion. The interior of the outer housing 41 is hollow as shown in the drawings whereby there is provided a first hollow section 46, there being a tapered shoulder 47 adjacent the end of the hollow section 46, and a reduced diameter cylindrical bore or recess 48 communicates with the recess 46 as shown in the drawings. The numeral 49 indicates a moveable inner plunger or dogging member that includes a cylindrical shank 50 that has a head 51 on one end thereof, and the enlarged head 51 includes cylindrical sections 52 and 53 of different diameters. The shank 50 has a reduced diameter stem portion 54 on the opposite end, and a tapered shoulder 55 is provided adjacent the stem 54, there being a cylindrical fitting 56 on the end of the plunger 51 as shown in the drawings. The numeral 57 indicates a coil spring that is circumposed on the shank 50. A retaining chain 58 has one end connected to the head 51, and the opposite end of the chain 58 is adapted to be suitably fastened to the plate 34 in order to prevent accidental loss of the lock.

In order to unlock the lock 30 it is necessary only to push in plunger 49 a sufficient distance to permit balls 44 to retract thus permitting housing 41 to be removed from the opening 38.

In FIGS. 6, 6A and 7 a modified form of the lock is illustrated generally at 130.

The lock includes an outer barrel or housing 141 that has a reduced diameter end portion 142 that is provided with a pair of diametrically opposed apertures 143, and ball retainers 144 are moveably mounted in the apertures 143, FIG. 6A. The outer barrel 141 is knurled at 145 as shown in the drawings to provide a hand gripping portion. The interior of the outer housing 141 is hollow as shown in the drawings whereby there is provided a first hollow section 146, there being a tapered shoulder 147 adjacent the end of the hollow section 146, and a reduced diameter cylindrical bore or recess 148 communicates with the recess 146 as shown in the drawings. The numeral 149 indicates a moveable inner plunger or dogging member that includes a cylindrical shank 150 that has a head 151 on one end thereof, and the enlarged head 151 includes cylindrical sections 152 and 153 of different diameters. The shank 150 has a reduced diameter stem portion 154 on the opposite end, and a tapered shoulder 155 is provided adjacent the stem 154, there being a cylindrical fitting 156 on the end of the plunger I51 as shown in the drawings. The numeral 157 indicates a coil spring that is circumposed on the shank 150. A retaining chain 158 has one end connected to the head 151, and the opposite end of the chain 158 is adapted to be suitably fastened to the plate 34 in order to prevent accidental loss of the lock.

The inner plunger I49 is provided with a slot 59 that is adapted to be selectively aligned with a projection or lug 60 that extends inwardly from the outer barrel or housing 141. Operation of the lock 130 requires a twist and inward pressure to unlock.

Attention is directed to FIGS. 8 through 16 of the drawings wherein there is illustrated another modified form of the lock that is indicated generally by the numeral 61. In FIGS. 8 through 16 the numeral 80 indicates a key operated lock for use with a bracket or plate 34 or plate 62 that has a section 63 provided with an opening 64 therein whereby a screw can extend through the opening 64 and into engagement with a shelf or other member for holding the bracket 62 in place. The bracket 62 also includes a flat section 65 that is arranged at right angles to the section 63, and the section 65 has an opening 66 therein for receiving an end portion of the lock 80. In FIG. 16 the numerals 67 indicate each of a pair of double doors such as swinging doors that may form part of a cabinet construction.

The lock 80 includes an outer housing 68 that has a reduced diameter end portion 69 for snugly projecting through the opening 66, and the reduced diameter por tion 69 has a pair of diametrically opposed apertures 70 that moveably support a pair of ball retainers 71. The interior of the outer housing 68 is recessed or hollow as at 72 and 73, and the numeral 81 indicates an inner plunger or dogging member that includes key tumblers that are selectively actuated by a suitable or proper key 75. The numeral 76 indicates a retaining clip for the inner plunger. A flat bar portion 77 is arranged on one end of the plunger SI for selectively maintaining the balls 71 in outer locking position as shown in FIG. 12, or else the parts can be moved to a position such as that shown in FIGS. 14 and I whereby the balls 71 can move inwardly sufficiently to an unlocked position. As shown in FIG. slightly curved or recessed surfaces 78 are provided in the housing to provide clearance for the rotating bar section 77. In FIG. 10 the numeral 79 indicates the key slot for receiving the inner portion of the key 75.

In FIG. I the numeral 82 indicates an incline surface on the door jam 3| that is engaged by the curved portion 40 of the plate 34. In FIG. 5 the numeral 83 indicates a shoulder on the outer housing 41 at the junction of the reduced diameter portion 42 and the remaining portion of the housing, and the shoulder 83 is selectively arranged in abutting engagement with the flat section 35 of the plate.

From the foregoing, it will be seen that there has been provided a secure lock and in use with the parts arranged as shown in the drawings. the plate 34 is secured to the door jam or frame 31 by means of the screws 37, and the incline portion 39 of the plate 34 is arranged parallel to the surface 82 so that the curved portion 40 abutts the incline surface 82 of the door frame 31 as shown in FIG. I. The recess 33 receives the door 32 when the door is in closed position, and in order to maintain the door locked, the reduced diameter end portion 42 is inserted through the opening 38 so that the door 32 can not be opened with the lock 30 positioned in the opening 38.

In order to unlock the lock 130, it is necessary for a person to align the slot 59 with the lug 60 as shown in FIG. 6, so that the plunger 149 can be pushed inwardly to compress the spring 157 whereby the balls 144 can move inwardly a sufficient distance so that the lock 130 can be removed from the opening 38.

It is to be noted that when the device 30, 130 is in locked position, the size of the opening 38 is such that the plate section 35 is engaged against the shoulder 83, 93 and the enlarged portion 56, I56 urges or maintains the balls 44, 144 outwardly as shown in FIGS. 4 and 6A so that the lock can not be removed from opening 38. However, when the plunger 49, 149 is properly moved and pushed inwardly, the tapered surface 55, I55 and reduced diameter stem portion 54, 154 provide clearance so that the ball 44, 144 can move inwardly a sufficient distance to permit the end portion 32, 132 to be removed from the opening 38.

When using the lock of FIGS. 8 through 16, the bracket 62 is secured in place by a screw extended through the opening 64, and a pair of the doors 67 can be maintained in locked position by inserting the reduced diameter end portion 69 through the openings 66 so that the doors 67 can not be opened with the device in locked position. In order to unlock the doors in FIGS. 8 through 16 a key of the proper configuration is inserted in the slot 79 and then the key 75 is turned to rotate the flat bar portion 77 from a position such as that shown in FIGS. 12 and 13 to a position such as that shown in FIG. 14 whereby the balls 71 can move inwardly a sufficient distance to permit the end portion 69 to be removed from the opening 66 so that the lock can be removed, and with the lock removed the doors 67 can be opened.

The parts can be made of any suitable material and in different shapes and sizes as desired or required.

In FIGS. 1 through 7 the ball chain 58, 158 can be used for coupling the lock to the plate. The members 44, 144 are in the form of ball bearings. Certain of the parts such as the parts in the area of these ball members can be staked to maintain the parts in their proper position. Similarly, the head 51, 151 may be staked in the area of the connection to the ball chain 58, 158 for maintaining the ball chain connected to the head.

The device shown in FIGS. 1 through 7 can be used as an inside night lock, and the device shown in FIGS. 8 through 16 can be used on cabinets such as kitchen cabinets, desks, tool boxes, medicine chests, and drawers or doors of various types.

When using the device of FIGS. 6, 6A and 7, to open the device, it is only necessary to manually twist the moveable plunger 149 at the rear until the keyway 59 is aligned with a scribe mark and projection 60 on the barrel 141. Then, the user presses inwardly on the plunger 149 while holding it in alignment with the keyway. By pulling up on the outer barrel 141 and gripping the knurled portion 145, this permits the balls 144 to drop down and the entire barrel can be pulled out of the locking or retainer plate 34. In summary, it will be seen that the action is accomplished by a twisting, pushing and pulling action.

It will be noted that the locking plate 34 is adapted to have its portion 39 bent or formed at different angles depending on the useage of the lock. Further, there is provided a outer knurled portion on the plunger section 152 which will make it easier to turn the plunger and hold it in position while inserting or removing the same from the retainer plate.

The basic difference between the device of FIGS. 8 through 16 and that shown in FIGS. 1 through 7 is that in FIGS. 8 through 16 a key 75 must be used. The key can only be turned 90 and a suitable stop is provided for this mechanism. Also, the key can only be removed when the lock is in the locked position so that the user or other person can not unlock the lock and pull out the key. FIGS. 12 and 13 illustrate the lock in locked position, while FIGS. 14 and IS show the position of the parts in unlocked position. In FIG. 16 the doors 67 are adapted to swing out and these doors may be double cabinet doors. A similar bracket can be used for a single door installation.

The device is constructed so that it has very substantial strength. The plate 34 includes the angle portion 49 as well as the curved portion 40 which bears against the incline surface 82 so that a lever arm is provided which assures increased strength whereby failure of the parts will be minimized.

Having thus described the preferred embodiments of the invention is should be understood that numerous additional structural modifications and adaptations may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. In a lock for a swinging door, a plate having a generally flat portion attached to the door jamb at a location within the crack between the door and the door jamb and extending inwardly through said crack and terminating in a curved portion overlapping and abutting the inside of the door jamb, the flat portion of the plate having an opening therein located inwardly of the door, said lock including an outer housing having a reduced diameter end portion for selectively projecting through the opening in said plate, there being diametrically opposed apertures in said reduced diameter end portion, ball members moveably mounted in said apertures to extend outwardly behind the plate at the inside of the door jamb to attach the lock to the plate at the inside of the door, an inner dogging member mounted in said housing, and a cylindrical fitting on the end of said dogging member for selectively maintaining said ball members in an outer position and for selectively permitting said ball members to move to an inward position.

2. A device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the dogging member is selectively manually rotatable and moveable inwardly.

3. A device as claimed in claim 2 and further including a coil spring circumposed on said dogging member.

4. A device as claimed in claim 3 and further including a chain connect to said dogging member.

5. A device as claimed in claim 1 and further including a key slot in said dogging member for receiving a key.

6. A device as claimed in claim 5 and further including a flat bar portion on said dogging member for engaging said ball members. 

1. In a lock for a swinging door, a plate having a generally flat portion attached to the door jamb at a location within the crack between the door and the door jamb and extending inwardly through said cRack and terminating in a curved portion overlapping and abutting the inside of the door jamb, the flat portion of the plate having an opening therein located inwardly of the door, said lock including an outer housing having a reduced diameter end portion for selectively projecting through the opening in said plate, there being diametrically opposed apertures in said reduced diameter end portion, ball members moveably mounted in said apertures to extend outwardly behind the plate at the inside of the door jamb to attach the lock to the plate at the inside of the door, an inner dogging member mounted in said housing, and a cylindrical fitting on the end of said dogging member for selectively maintaining said ball members in an outer position and for selectively permitting said ball members to move to an inward position.
 2. A device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the dogging member is selectively manually rotatable and moveable inwardly.
 3. A device as claimed in claim 2 and further including a coil spring circumposed on said dogging member.
 4. A device as claimed in claim 3 and further including a chain connect to said dogging member.
 5. A device as claimed in claim 1 and further including a key slot in said dogging member for receiving a key.
 6. A device as claimed in claim 5 and further including a flat bar portion on said dogging member for engaging said ball members. 